Andrej Sekera placed on the Injured Reserve

It’s been a rough season for Andrej Sekera. He suffered an injury in last spring’s playoff series against the Ducks and had off-season surgery. He finally made his return to the Oilers on Dec. 21 but, unsurprisingly, hasn’t looked like the same steady presence on the blueline that he did last year.

Things went from bad to worse for Sekera on Friday against the Ducks (ironically) as he took a puck to the face and left the game. Today, Sekera was placed on the Injured Reserve.

Andrej Sekera has been placed on Injured Reserve, Coach McLellan announces following this morning's #Oilers practice.

It doesn’t seem that this is a serious injury and thankfully it isn’t a re-aggravation of his ACL injury from last year’s playoffs.

The team hasn’t announced a corresponding roster move, but one would imagine it means Keegan Lowe, who was an emergency recall on Saturday, will stick around with the team as they travel to Vegas, Arizona, and Colorado over the next few days. With Adam Larsson still away due to his father’s passing, the Oilers have seven defenders: Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Kris Russell, Matt Benning, Brandon Davidson, Yohann Auvitu, and Lowe available.

Honestly, given the way Sekera’s ACL injury has effected his play, I’m not too worried about him taking some time off. The season is over and I would rather players be rested and ready to go come October, as sad as that sounds.

so Concussion without saying concussion. got it! also Sekera under contract for three more years after this one and has a no movement clause. I would do everything to ensure he get healthy – you need this aging defender until 2022!

The team should probably look at shutting Klefbom down too if he really is hurt. This season is officially lost, so it’s time to look to next year. I’d consider shutting Lucic down for a week or two too; in spite of his back issues, he’s played reasonably well (snakebit to no ends, but well), but he needs to rest and clear his head. We don’t gain anything as a team from letting him ride out the season with whatever’s plaguing him. Give him a bit of time off and let him recoup his game.

Not sure when Larsson is supposed to be back either, but if he’s going to be gone a while, I’d look at bringing Simpson and Gryba up to the big team for the remainder of the year too. Ensure that Jones, Bear, and Mantha are getting minutes in the minors in spite of Fleming’s backwards development strategies. Post-deadline they can opt to try Auvitu at LW again, or bring up a kid like Gambardella or Laleggia to see how they play as a depth forward in the NHL.

The bottom-6 of the roster and effectively the entire D-corps are going to look like hell until the end of the season, but if it means nabbing a kid like Tkachuk, Zadina, or Boqvist at the draft this year, I’m game.

I think next season will undoubtedly be better than this year. Draisaitl won’t be recovering from a concussion, Sekera and Klefbom will be at 100%, Larsson will be in a better place, and guys like McDavid, Nurse, and Puljujarvi will be even better next year.

Just tank and make a great effort at getting a top 3 pick. Do everything you can to re-stock the bare cupboard of prospects. Any decision to do otherwise is not smart business. Outside of Mcdavid trying to win the scoring title, there is no reason to not tank. Heal Klefbom and Sekera so we are not out of the playoffs by November again.

Why no retribution to Getzlaf now that we’re out of it?? Make him pay and Kessler needs to be taken out. He tried a knee on Connor he other night and it’s not acceptable to do nothing.
Somebody needs to cross check him in the face and ruin it permanent like. Take the suspension, and let Katz pay the fine… enough is enough.
Lucic, Kassian, Maroon its on you. DO not force Nurse to do that

When is Larrson coming back? I know losing a father is devastating but he’s been gone for weeks. Even the most “uniony” union gives you a week. BTW I lost my dad too so no BS about not knowing what he’s going through.